JJNITED  states  and  LATIN  AMERICA 
LOS  ESTADOS  UNIDOS  Y LA  AMERICA  LATINA 


ADDRESS 

DISCURSO 

delivered  by 

pronunciado  por 

The  President  of  the 

United  States 

El  Presidente  de  los 
Estados  Unidos 

October  27,  1913 

Octubre  27,  1913 

before  the 

en  el 

Southern  Commercial 
Congress 

Congreso  Comercial 
del  Sur 

held  at 

celebrado  en 

Mobile,  Ala.,  U.S.  A. 

Mobila,  Ala.,  E.U.A. 

PAN  AMERICAN  UNION 

John  Barrett,  Director  General 

FRANCISCO  J.  YANES,  Assistant  Director 

Washington,  D.  C. 

U.S. A. 

UNION  PANAMERICANA 

John  Barrett,  Director  General 

FRANCISCO  J.  YANES,  Subdirector 

Washington,  D.  C. 

E.U.A. 

UNITED  STATES  AND  LATIN  AMERICA 


Address  Delivered  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  October  27,  1913,  Before  the 
Southern  Commercial  Congress,  Held  at 
Mobile,  Alabama,  U.  S.  A. 

Your  Excellency^  Mr.  Chairman  : 

It  is  with  unaffected  pleasure  that  I find  myself  here  to- 
day. I once  before  had  the  pleasure,  in  another  Southern 
city,  of  addressing  the  Southern  Commercial  Congress.  I 
then  spoke  of  what  the  future  seemed  to  hold  in  store  for 
this  region  which  so  many  of  us  love  and  towards  the  fu- 
ture of  which  we  all  look  forward  with  so  much  confidence 
and  hope.  But  another  theme  directed  me  here  this  time. 
I do  not  need  to  speak  of  the  South.  She  has,  perhaps, 
acquired  the  gift  of  speaking  for  herself.  I come  because 
I want  to  speak  of  our  present  and  prospective  relations 
with  our  neighbors  to  the  south.  I deemed  it  a public  duty, 
as  well  as  a personal  pleasure,  to  be  here  to  express  for 
myself  and  for  the  government  I represent  the  welcome  we 
all  feel  to  those  who  represent  the  Latin  American  states. 

The  future,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  is  going  to  be  very 
different  for  this  hemisphere  from  the  past.  These  states 
lying  to  the  south  of  us,  which  have  always  been  our 
neighbors,  will  now  be  drawn  closer  to  us  by  innumerable 
ties,  and,  I hope,  chief  of  all,  by  the  tie  of  a common  under- 
standing of  each  other.  Interest  does  not  tie  nations  to- 
gether. It  sometimes  separates  them ; but  sympathy  and 
understanding  do  unite  them,  and  I believe  that  by  the 
new  route  that  is  just  about  to  be  opened,  while  we  physic- 
ally cut  two  continents  asunder,  we  spiritually  unite  them. 
It  is  a spiritual  union  which  we  seek. 


LOS  ESTADOS  UNIDOS  Y LA  AMERICA  LATINA 


Discurso  Pronunciado  por  el  Presidente  de  los 
Estados  Unidos  el  27  de  Octubre  de  1913, 
en  el  Congreso  Comercial  del  Sur,  Ce- 
lebrado  en  Mobila,  Alabama,  E.  U.  A. 

Excelentisimo  Senor  Gobernador;  Senor  Presidente: 

Estoy  sinceramente  complacido  de  hallarme  entre 
vosotros.  Ya  una  vez  tuve  el  placer  de  dirigirme  al  Con- 
greso Comercial  del  Sur,  en  otra  ciudad  del  Sur,  y hable 
entonces  de  lo  que  el  futuro  parecia  guardar  para  esta 
region,  que  tanto  amamos  algunos  y al  porvenir  de  la  cual 
dirigimos  todos  la  mirada  con  tanta  fe  y esperanza.  Esta 
vez  me  ha  inspirado  otro  tema.  No  tengo  para  que  hablar 
del  Sur ; esta  region  ha  adquirido  sin  duda  el  don  de  hablar 
por  si  misma.  He  venido  porque  quiero  tratar  de  nuestras 
relaciones  presentes  y futras  con  nuestros  vecinos  del  Sur. 
Considero  como  un  deber  publico,  a la  par  que  un  placer 
personal,  hallarme  aqui  para  expresar  en  mi  nombre  y en 
el  del  Gobierno  que  represento  la  bienvenida  que  todos 
ofrecemos  a los  representantes  de  los  paises  latinoame- 
ricanos. 

El  porvenir,  Senoras  y Senores,  sera  para  este  hemisferio 
muy  diferente  de  lo  que  fuera  en  epocas  pasadas.  Esas 
naciones  que  quedan  al  Sur  de  nosotros  y que  han  sido 
siempre  nuestros  vecinos  se  nos  acercaran  mas  por  medio 
de  innumerables  vinculos,  y espero  que  sea  el  mayor  de 
todos  la  mutua  buena  inteligencia.  El  interes  no  une  las 
naciones  entre  si.  A veces  las  separa,  pero  la  simpatia  y 
la  mutua  inteligencia  las  une,  y creo  que  por  medio  de  esa 
nueva  ruta  que  esta  al  abrirse,  aun  cuando  fisicamente  sepa- 
ramos  dos  continentes,  los  unimos  moralmente.  Es  la  union 
por  el  espiritu  lo  que  buscamos. 


4 


I wonder  if  you  realize,  I wonder  if  your  imaginations 
have  been  filled  with  the  significance  of  the  tides  of  com- 
merce. Your  Governor  alluded  in  very  fit  and  striking 
terms  to  the  voyage  of  Columbus;  but  Columbus  took  his 
voyage  under  compulsion  of  circumstances.  Constantinople 
had  been  captured  by  the  Turks  and  all  the  routes  of  trade 
with  the  East  had  been  suddenly  closed.  If  there  was  not 
a way  across  the  Atlantic  to  open  those  routes  again,  they 
were  closed  forever,  and  Columbus  set  out,  not  to  discover 
America,  for  he  did  not  know  that  it  existed,  but  to  dis- 
cover the  eastern  shores  of  Asia.  He  set  sail  for  Cathay 
and  stumbled  upon  America.  With  that  change  in  the  out- 
look of  the  world,  what  happened?  England,  that  had  been 
at  the  back  of  Europe  with  an  unknown  sea  behind  her, 
found  that  all  things  had  turned  as  if  upon  a pivot  and 
she  was  at  the  front  of  Europe;  and  since  then  all  the  tides 
of  energy  and  enterprise  that  have  issued  out  of  Europe 
have  seemed  to  be  turned  westward  across  the  Atlantic.  But 
you  will  notice  that  they  have  turned  westward  chiefly  north 
of  the  equator  and  that  it  is  the  northern  half  of  the  globe 
that  has  seemed  to  be  filled  with  the  media  of  intercourse 
and  of  sympathy  and  of  common  understanding. 

Do  you  not  see  now  what  is  about  to  happen?  These 
great  tides  which  have  been  running  along  parallels  of  lati- 
tude will  now  swing  southward  athwart  parallels  of  latitude, 
and  that  opening  gate  at  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  will  open 
the  world  to  a commerce  that  she  has  not  known  before,  a 
commerce  of  intelligence,  of  thought  and  sympathy,  be- 
tween North  and  South.  The  Latin  American  states,  which 
to  their  disadvantage,  have  been  off  the  main  lines,  will  now 
be  on  the  main  lines.  I feel  that  these  gentlemen  honoring 
us  with  their  presence  today  will  presently  find  that  some 
part,  at  any  rate,  of  the  center  of  gravity  of  the  world  has 


5 


Me  pregunto  si  llegais  a daros  cuenta  cabal,  si  vuestra 
mente  esta  penetrada  de  lo  que  significan  las  corrientes  del 
comercio.  Vuestro  Gobernador  hizo  alusion  en  terminos 
tan  justos  como  sabios  al  viaje  de  Colon;  pero  Colon  em- 
prendio  el  viaje  por  fuerza  de  las  circunstancias.  Constan- 
tinopla  habia  sido  capturada  por  los  Turcos  y todas  las 
rutas  comerciales  que  conducian  al  Oriente  se  habian  cerrado 
repentinamente.  Si  por  el  Atlantico  no  habia  un  medio  de 
volver  a abrir  esas  rutas,  quedarian  cerradas  para  siempre. 
Colon  no  salio  a descubrir  America,  porque  ignoraba  que 
existiese,  sino  a descubrir  las  playas  orientales  de  Asia.  Se 
dio  a la  vela  con  rumbo  a Catay,  y tropezo  con  America. 
Debido  a este  cambio  en  el  futuro  del  mundo,  ique  sucedio? 
Inglaterra  a las  espaldas  de  Europa  con  un  mar  desconocido 
por  detras,  se  encontro  con  que  todo  habia  girado  como 
sobre  un  eje  y que  se  hallaba  f rente  a Europa,  y desde  en- 
tonces  todas  las  corrientes  de  energia  y espiritu  de  empresa 
que  han  partido  de  Europa  parecen  haberse  dirigido  al 
Occidente  atraves  del  Atlantico.  Notareis  que  se  han  di- 
rigido al  occidente  del  Ecuador  y principalmente  al  norte 
de  este,  y que  es  la  mitad  septentrional  del  globo  la  que  ha 
parecido  saturarse  en  el  medio  en  que  se  desarrollan  el  trato, 
la  simpatia  y la  comun  inteligencia. 

iNo  veis  ahora  lo  que  estaba  proximo  a suceder?  Esas 
grandes  corrientes  que  han  venido  encauzadas  entre  pa- 
ralelos  de  latitud,  hoy  tomaran  rumbo  al  sur,  atravesando 
esos  mismos  paralelos,  y al  abrir  las  puertas  en  el  istmo  de 
Panama,  se  abrira  el  mundo  a un  comercio  que  antes  no 
habia  conocido;  comercio  de  inteligencia,  de  pensamientos 
y simpatias  entre  el  norte  y el  sur.  Las  naciones  latino- 
americanas  que,  con  desventajas  para  si,  se  hallaban  fuera 
de  las  vias  principales,  quedaran  entonces  dentro  de  ellas. 
Estoy  convencido  de  que  estos  caballeros  que  hoy  nos  hon- 
ran  con  su  presencia,  veran  pronto  que  por  lo  menos  una 


6 


shifted.  Do  you  realize  that  New  York,  for  example,  will 
be  nearer  the  western  coast  of  South  America  than  she  is 
now  to  the  eastern  coast  of  South  America?  Do  you 
realize  that  a line  drawn  northward,  parallel  with  the 
greater  part  of  the  western  coast  of  South  America,  will 
run  only  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  west  of  New 
York?  The  great  bulk  of  South  America,  if  you  will  look 
at  your  globes  (not  at  your  Mercator’s  projection),  lies 
eastward  of  the  continent  of  North  America.  You  will 
realize  this  when  you  realize  that  the  Canal  will  run  south- 
east, not  southwest,  and  that  when  you  get  into  the  Pacific, 
you  will  be  further  east  than  you  were  when  you  left  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  These  things  are  significant,  therefore, 
of  this,  that  we  are  closing  one  chapter  in  the  history  of 
the  world  and  are  opening  another,  of  great,  unimaginable 
significance. 

There  is  one  peculiarity  about  the  history  of  the  Latin 
American  states  which  I am  sure  they  are  keenly  aware  of. 
You  hear  of  “concessions”  to  foreign  capitalists  in  Latin 
America.  You  do  not  hear  of  concessions  to  foreign  capi- 
talists in  the  United  States.  They  are  not  granted  con- 
cessions. They  are  invited  to  make  investments.  The 
work  is  ours,  though  they  are  welcome  to  invest  in  it.  We 
do  not  ask  them  to  supply  the  capital  and  do  the  work.  It 
is  an  invitation,  not  a privilege ; and  states  that  are  obliged, 
because  their  territory  does  not  lie  within  the  main  field  of 
modern  enterprise  and  action,  to  grant  concessions  are  in 
this  condition,  that  foreign  interests  are  apt  to  dominate 
their  domestic  affairs : a condition  of  affairs  always  dan- 
gerous and  apt  to  become  intolerable.  What  these  states 
are  going  to  see,  therefore,  is  an  emancipation  from  the 
subordination,  which  has  been  inevitable,  to  foreign  enter- 
prise and  an  assertion  of  the  splendid  character  which,  in 
spite  of  these  difficulties,  they  have  again  and  again  been 


7 


parte  del  centre  de  gravedad  del  mundo  se  ha  movido.  ^Os 
dais  cuenta  de  que  Nueva  York,  por  ejemplo,  se  hallara 
mas  cerca  de  la  costa  occidental  de  Sud-America  de  lo  que 
se  encuentra  de  la  oriental?  ^Os  dais  cuenta  de  que  una 
linea  paralela  a la  porcion  mas  grande  de  la  costa  occidental 
de  Sud-America,  pasara  a cosa  de  ciento  cincuenta  millas  al 
oeste  de  Nueva  York?  La  mayor  porcion  de  Sud-America 
-—si  examinais  un  globo  terraqueo,  no  la  proyeccion  de 
Mercator — queda  al  este  del  Continente  de  Norte  America. 
Cuando  hayais  visto  que  el  Canal  se  extiende  al  Sudeste 
y no  el  Sudoeste,  y cuando  llegueis  al  Pacifico,  os  dareis 
cuenta  de  que  os  encontrais  mas  al  este  que  cuando  salisteis 
del  Golfo  de  Mexico.  Todo  esto  significa  que  estamos 
cerrando  un  capitulo  en  la  historia  del  mundo  y abriendo 
otro,  de  grande,  inconmensurable  significacion. 

Hay  una  particularidad  en  la  historia  de  los  paises  latino- 
americanos  de  que  estoy  seguro  ellos  se  dan  cuenta  cabal. 
Ois  hablar  de  “concesiones”  hechas  a capitalistas  extranje- 
ros  en  la  America  Latina.  No  ois  que  en  los  Estados 
Unidos  se  hagan  concesiones  a capitalistas  extranjeros.  No 
se  les  hacen  concesiones;  se  les  invita  a hacer  inversiones. 
La  obra  es  nuestra,  aun  cuando  se  reciba  con  agrado  lo  que 
inviertan  en  ella.  No  se  les  pide  que  aporten  el  capital  y 
hagan  el  trabajo.  Se  les  hace  una  invitacion;  no  se  les 
concede  un  privilegio. 

Los  paises  que  por  no  hallarse  dentro  del  campo  mas- 
fertil  de  la  empresa  y la  accion  modernas  se  ven  obligados 
a hacer  concesiones,  se  encuentran  en  esta  situacion:  que 
los  intereses  extranjeros  pueden  llegar  a dominar  sus  asun- 
tos  internos,  estado  de  cosas  siempre  peligroso  y que  corre 
el  riesgo  de  hacerse  intolerable.  Lo  que  estos  paises  han 
de  ver,  pues,  es  la  emancipacion  de  una  subordinacion  a 
empresas  extranjeras  que  ha  sido  inevitable,  y la  imposiciorr 


able  to  demonstrate.  The  dignity,  the  courage,  the  self- 
possession,  the  self-respect  of  the  Latin  American  states, 
their  achievements  in  the  face  of  all  these  adverse  circum- 
stances, deserve  nothing  but  the  admiration  and  applause 
of  the  world.  They  have  had  harder  bargains  driven  with 
them  in  the  matter  of  loans  than  any  other  peoples  in  the 
world.  Interest  has  been  exacted  of  them  that  was  not 
exacted  of  anybody  else,  because  the  risk  was  said  to  be 
greater;  and  then  securities  were  taken  that  destroyed  the 
risk, — an  admirable  arrangement  for  those  who  were  forc- 
ing the  terms!  I rejoice  in  nothing  so  much  as  in  the  pros- 
pect that  they  will  now  be  emancipated  from  these  condi- 
tions, and  we  ought  to  be  the  first  to  take  part  in  assisting 
in  that  emancipation.  I think  some  of  these  gentlemen 
have  already  had  occasion  to  bear  witness  that  the  De- 
partment of  State  in  recent  months  has  tried  to  serve  them 
in  that  wise.  In  the  future  they  will  draw  closer  and  closer 
to  us  because  of  circumstances  of  which  I wish  to  speak 
with  moderation  and,  I hope,  without  indiscretion. 

We  must  prove  ourselves  their  friends  and  champions, 
upon  terms  of  equality  and  honor.  You  cannot  be  friends 
upon  any  other  terms  than  upon  the  terms  of  equality. 
You  cannot  be  friends  at  all  except  upon  the  terms  of 
honor.  We  must  show  ourselves  friends  by  comprehending 
their  interest,  whether  it  squares  with  our  own  interest  or 
not.  It  is  a very  perilous  thing  to  determine  the  foreign 
policy  of  a nation  in  the  terms  of  material  interest.  It  not 
only  is  unfair  to  those  with  whom  you  are  dealing,  but 
it  is  degrading  as  regards  your  own  actions. 

Comprehension  must  be  the  soil  in  which  shall  grow  all 
the  fruits  of  friendship,  and  there  is  a reason  and  a com- 
pulsion lying  behind  all  this  which  is  dearer  than  anything 
else  to  the  thoughtful  men  of  America.  I mean  the  develop- 


9 


del  esplendido  caracter  que,  a pesar  de  esas  dificultades, 
han  sabido  demostrar  una  y otra  vez.  La  dignidad,  el  valor, 
la  reserva  contenida,  el  respeto  propio  de  los  paises  de  la 
America  Latina,  sus  conquistas  en  faz  de  todas  estas  ad- 
versas  circunstancias,  solo  merecen  la  admiracion  y el  aplau- 
so  del  mundo.  For  lo  que  a emprestitos  se  refiere,  han  sido, 
mas  que  ningun  otro  pueblo  del  mundo,  victimas  de  nego- 
cios  leoninos.  Se  les  han  hecho  pagar  intereses  que  ningun 
otro  hubiera  pagado,  so  pretexto  de  que  el  riesgo  era  mayor, 
y luego  se  han  exigido  garantias  que  destruian  el  riesgo — 
.jnegocio  admirable  para  los  que  obligaban  la  aceptacion  de 
seme j antes  condiciones!  Nada  me  contenta  mas  que  la  es- 
peranza  de  que  se  emanciparan  ahora  de  esos  gravamenes, 
y nosotros  deberiamos  ser  los  primeros  en  ayudar  esa  eman- 
cipacion.  Creo  que  algunos  de  los  senores  aqui  presentes 
han  podido  comprobar  que  el  Departamento  de  Estado  en 
los  ultimos  meses  ha  tratado  de  servirles  en  ese  particular. 
En  el  porvenir  se  acercaran  mas  y mas  a nosotros  por  cir- 
cunstancias que  deseo  mencionar  con  moderacion,  y espero 
que  sin  indiscrecion. 

Debemos  probar  que  somos  sus  amigos  y campeones,  en 
terminos  de  igualdad  y honor.  No  se  puede  ser  amigo,  si 
no  hay  igualdad;  no  se  puede  ser  amigo  en  absoluto,  si  no 
existe  el  honor.  Debemos  probar  que  somos  sus  amigos, 
que  comprendemos  sus  intereses,  aunque  estos  y los  nues- 
tros  no  se  avengan.  Es  muy  peligroso  fijar  el  rumbo  de  la 
politica  extranjera  de  una  nacion  por  el  interes  material. 
No  solamente  es  injusto  para  aquellos  con  quienes  tratamos, 
sino  degradante  por  lo  que  a nuestras  acciones  respecta. 

La  mutua  inteligencia  es  el  terreno  abonado  donde  deben 
crecer  todos  los  frutos  de  la  amistad,  y detras  de  todo  esto 
existen  una  razon  y una  fuerza  mas  caras  que  todo  para 
los  pensadores  de  America.  Me  refiero  a la  expansion  de 


10 


ment  of  constitutional  liberty  in  the  world.  Human  rights^ 
national  integrity  and  opportunity  as  against  material  in- 
terests,— that,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  is  the  issue  which  we 
now  have  to  face.  I want  to  take  this  occasion  to  say  that 
the  United  States  will  never  again  seek  one  additional  foot 
of  territory  by  conquest.  She  will  devote  herself  to  show- 
ing that  she  knows  how  to  make  honorable  and  fruitful  use 
of  the  territory  she  has;  and  she  must  regard  it  as  one  of 
the  duties  of  friendship  to  see  that  from  no  quarter  are 
material  interests  made  superior  to  human  liberty  and  na- 
tional opportunity.  I say  this,  not  with  a single  thought 
that  anyone  will  gainsay  it,  but  merely  to  fix  in  our  con- 
sciousness what  our  real  relationship  with  the  rest  of 
America  is.  It  is  the  relationship  of  a family  of  mankind 
devoted  to  the  development  of  true  constitutional  liberty. 
We  know  that  that  is  the  soil  out  of  which  the  best  enter- 
prise springs.  We  know  that  this  is  a cause  which  we  are 
making  in  common  with  our  neighbors  because  we  have  had 
to  make  it  for  ourselves. 

Reference  has  been  made  here  today  to  some  of  the  na- 
tional problems  which  confront  us  as  a nation.  What  is  at 
the  heart  of  all  our  national  problems?  It  is  that  we  have 
seen  the  hand  of  material  interest  sometimes  about  to  close 
upon  our  dearest  rights  and  possessions.  We  have  seen 
material  interests  threaten  constitutional  freedom  in  the 
United  States.  Therefore,  we  will  now  know  how  to  sym- 
pathize with  those  in  the  rest  of  America  who  have  to 
contend  with  such  powers  not  only  within  their  borders  but 
from  outside  their  borders  also. 

I know  what  the  response  of  the  thought  and  heart  of 
America  will  be  to  the  programme  I have  outlined,  because 
America  was  created  to  realize  a programme  like  that.  This 
is  not  America  because  it  is  rich.  This  is  not  America  be- 


11 


la  libertad  constitucional  en  el  mundo.  Los  derechos 
humanos,  la  integridad  nacional,  la  oportunidad,  contra  los 
intereses  materiales  es,  Senoras  y Senores,  el  problema  a 
que  debemos  hacer  frente.  Quiero  aprovechar  esta  ocasion 
para  decir  que  los  Estados  Unidos  jamas  volveran  a buscar 
un  pie  de  territorio  por  conquista.  Se  empenaran  en 
demostrar  que  saben  como  hacer  uso  honorable  y prove- 
choso  del  territorio  que  poseen,  y sera  uno  de  sus  deberes 
de  amistad  el  vigilar  por  que  bajo  ningun  concepto  los  in- 
teres  materiales  hayan  de  supeditar  la  libertad  humana  y la 
oportunidad  nacional.  Digo  esto  no  porque  abrigue  el 
menor  pensamiento  de  que  haya  quien  lo  ponga  en  tela  de 
juicio,  sino  unicamente  para  fijar  en  nuestras  conciencias 
cuales  son  nuestras  verdaderas  relaciones  con  el  resto  de  la 
America.  Son  las  relaciones  de  una  familia  de  la  humani- 
dad  que  se  dedica  al  fomento  de  la  verdadera  libertad  cons- 
titucional. Sabemos  que  ese  es  el  campo  que  da  mejores 
frutos,  sabemos  que  esta  es  una  causa  que  hacemos  en 
comun  con  nuestros  vecinos,  porque  hemos  tenido  que 
hacerla  para  nosotros  mismos. 

Hoy  se  ha  hecho  referenda  aqui  a algunos  de  los  proble- 
mas  nacionales  c[ue  confrontan  al  pais.  iQue  es  lo  que 
existe  en  el  fondo  de  todos  nuestros  problemas  nacionales? 
Que  hemos  visto  a veces  la  mano  de  los  intereses  materiales 
proxima  a caer  sobre  nuestros  derechos  y propiedades  mas 
queridos.  Hemos  visto  que  los  intereses  materiales 
amenazaban  la  libertad  constitucional  en  los  Estados 
Unidos.  Asi,  pues,  hoy  sabemos  como  simpatizar  con  los 
que  en  el  resto  de  la  America  tienen  que  luchar  contra  esas 
fuerzas,  no  solamente  dentro  de  sus  fronteras,  sino  tambien 
fuera  de  ellas.  Se  como  el  cerebro  y el  corazon  de  America 
responderan  al  programa  que  he  delineado,  porque  America 
fue  creada  para  resolver  un  programa  de  ese  genero.  Esta 
no  es  America  porque  seamos  ricos;  no  es  America  porque 


12 


cause  it  has  set  up  for  a great  population  great  opportuni- 
ties of  material  prosperity.  America  is  a name  which 
sounds  in  the  ears  of  men  everywhere  as  a synonym  with 
individual  opportunity  because  a synonym  of  individual 
liberty.  I would  rather  belong  to  a poor  nation  that  was 
free  than  to  a rich  nation  that  had  ceased  to  be  in  love  with 
liberty.  But  we  shall  not  be  poor  if  we  love  liberty,  because 
the  nation  that  loves  liberty  truly  sets  every  man  free  to  do 
his  best  and  be  his  best,  and  that  means  the  release  of  all 
the  splendid  energies  of  a great  people  who  think  for  them- 
selves. A nation  of  employees  cannot  be  free  any  more 
than  a nation  of  employers  can  be. 

In  emphasizing  the  points  which  must  unite  us  in  sym- 
pathy and  in  spiritual  interest  with  the  Latin  American 
peoples,  we  are  only  emphasizing  the  points  of  our  own  life, 
and  we  should  prove  ourselves  untrue  to  our  own  traditions 
if  we  proved  ourselves  untrue  friends  to  them.  Do  not 
think,  therefore,  gentlemen,  that  the  questions  of  the  day 
are  mere  questions  of  policy  and  diplomacy.  They  are  shot 
through  with  the  principles  of  life.  We  dare  not  turn  from 
the  principle  that  morality,  and  not  expediency,  is  the  thing 
that  must  guide  us  and  that  we  will  never  condone  iniquity 
because  it  is  most  convenient  to  do  so.  It  seems  to  me  that 
this  is  a day  of  infinite  hope,  of  confidence  in  a future 
greater  than  the  past  has  been;  for  I am  fain  to  believe 
that,  in  spite  of  all  the  things  that  we  wish  to  correct,  the 
nineteenth  century  that  now  lies  behind  us  has  brought  us 
a long  stage  toward  the  time  when,  slowly  ascending  the 
tedious  climb  that  leads  to  the  final  uplands,  we  shall  get 
our  ultimate  view  of  the  duties  of  mankind.  We  have 
breasted  a considerable  part  of  that  climb  and  shall,  pres- 
ently,— it  may  be  in  a generation  or  two, — come  out  upon 
those  great  heights  where  there  shines,  unobstructed,  the 
light  of  the  justice  of  God. 


13 


para  una  gran  poblacion  tengamos  grandes  oportunidades 
de  prosperidad  material.  America  es  un  nombre  que  suena 
en  los  oidos  de  todos  como  sinonimo  de  oportunidad  indi- 
vidual, por  ser  este  sinonimo  de  libertad  individual.  Pre- 
fiero  pertenecer  a una  nacion  pobre  pero  libre,  que  a una 
nacion  rica  pero  que  ha  cesado  de  amar  la  libertad.  No 
seremos  pobres  si  amamos  la  libertad,  porque  la  nacion  que 
ama  la  libertad,  se  la  da  a cada  individuo  para  que  proceda 
de  la  mejor  manera  y haga  sus  mejores  esfuerzos,  y esto 
importa  el  libre  uso  de  todas  las  esplendidas  energias  de 
un  gran  pueblo  que  sabe  pensar.  Una  nacion  de  empleados 
no  puede  ser  mas  libre  que  una  de  amos. 

A1  hacer  hincapie  en  los  puntos  que  deben  unirnos  en 
simpatia  e intereses  morales  con  los  pueblos  latinoame- 
ricanos,  tan  solo  acentuamos  los  de  nuestra  propia  vida,  y 
seriamos  desleales  a nuestras  tradiciones  si  no  fuesemos 
sus  leaks  amigos.  No  creais,  pues.  Sen  ores,  que  las  cues- 
tiones  del  dia  son  simplemente  cuestiones  de  politica  y di- 
plomacia.  Estan  empapadas  de  los  principios  de  la  vida.  No 
debemos  olvidar  la  doctrina  de  que  es  la  moralidad  y no  la 
conveniencia  lo  que  debe  servirnos  de  guia  y que  nunca 
hemos  de  perdonar  la  injusticia  porque  es  mas  conveniente 
hacerlo.  Creo  que  este  es  un  dia  de  esperanza  infinita,  de 
confianza  en  un  porvenir  mas  grande  que  el  pasado ; porque 
estoy  seguro  de  que,  a pesar  de  cuanto  queremos  corregir, 
el  siglo  XIX,  que  dejamos  atras,  nos  ha  acercado  mucho  al 
dia  en  que,  subiendo  lentamente  la  via  que  nos  conduce  a la 
meseta  donde  terminara  el  viajk,  lleguemos  a tener  la  ultima 
idea  de  lo  que  son  los  deberes  de  la  humanidad.  Hemos 
ganado  ya  gran  parte  de  las  cuesta  y llegaremos— -dentro  de 
una  o dos  generaciones — a esa  altura  donde  brilla,  sin 
obstaculos,  la  luz  de  la  justicia  de  Dios. 


The  Pan  American  Union  is  an  inter- 
national organization  and  office  main- 
tained by  the  twenty-one  American 
Republics,  controlled  by  a Governing  Board 
composed  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Diplomatic  Repre- 
sentatives in  Washington  of  the  other  Ameri- 
can nations,  administered  by  a Director  Gen- 
eral and  Assistant  Director  chosen  by  this 
Board  and  assisted  by  a staff  of  statisticians, 
compilers,  trade  experts,  translators,  editors, 
librarians  and  clerks,  and  devoted  to  the 
development  of  commerce,  friendly  intercourse 
and  better  acquaintance  among  all  the  Ameri- 
can Republics. 


1A  Union  Panamericana  es  una  Insti- 
i tucion  y oficina  internacional  soste- 
nida  por  las  21  Republicas  americanas, 
regida  por  un  Consejo  Directive  compuesto 
del  Secretario  de  Estado  de  los  Estados 
Unidos  y de  los  Representantes  Diplomaticos 
en  Washington  de  las  otras  naciones  ameri- 
canas. La  administran  un  Director  General 
y un  Subdirector,  elegidos  por  dicho  Consejo, 
y auxiliados  por  un  personal  de  estadisticos, 
recopiladores,  peritos  mercantiles,  traductores, 
redactores,  bibliotecarios  y escribientes,  y se 
consagra  al  desarrollo  del  comercio,  las  rela- 
ciones  amistosas  y un  mejor  conocimiento 
mutuo  de  todas  las  Republicas  americanas. 


*■'  !'»f.  ■; 

■ M 

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